Building construction



Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

nirsn STATES PATENT vorrlcs.

ALBERT F. BEMIS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BEMIS INDUSTRIES, IN C., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed June 13, 1925. Serial No. 36,851.

The present invention relates to buildings, and more particularly to a mode of building construction employing a structural framework and standardized interlitting units and columns, and to the elements or completed structures resulting from the applieation of the same.

In a 'copending application entitled Method of building construction and re sulting structures, Serial No. 36,852 and filed by me on ev-en date herewith, I have disclosed a method of building construction which is characterized, with respect to procedure, by erecting a framework, assembling therewith intertitting units, made of wood or other sheet material, which are adapted to serve as the complemental elements of forms corresponding to and surrounding the framework, joining such units permanently together and in fixed relationship to the framework, and filling a cementitious material into the forms thus made which, upon setting, constitutes the permanent, rein forced framework of the finished structure.

The present invention includes an improvement upon the procedure and resulting` structures incident to the above mentioned invention, in its adaptation'to appropriate designs and to those materials for which it is especially suited in practice. In general, it may be said to comprise a method of assembling a plurality of units of standardaZed shapes and sizes, joining two or more series of such units together by means of intermediate columns which are adapted to engage adjacent units to form a wall, and also joining other partition or wall elements thereto, resulting in a permanent `unit-ary structure.

The intermediate columns referred to may be adapted to severally enclose the correh spending elements of a strutcural framework for the building, to which they are afhxed in permanently spaced relationship by suitable means. The elements of the framework are also adjustably but permanently connected each to the other, both vertieally and horizontally corresponding to the walls (including partitions and floors) of the building, and serve to form a rigid reinforcement of the whole.

A typical and representative application of the invention will be described with respect to the usual procedures required in general building construction, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 1s an Orthographie view, with parts 'broken away, showing two series of units assembled in spaced relationship with an in.- termediate sectional column for joining the same;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the sections of the column drawn together;

Fig. 3 is an Orthographie View of a section of the intermediatecolumn with a part broken away; v

Referring to the drawings, the standard building units l, l comprise substantially rectangular blocks made of concrete, or other suitable material capable of being shaped to the desired size and design, each having a projecting or tenen element 2 at one or both ends, and preferably made hollow, as by the vertical cylindrical openings 3 which pass therethrough, to reduce the weight of the units and of the completed structure in which they may be employed. These units are assembled in series consisting of superposed rows or tiers, (Fig. 1) in the usual manner, to form corresponding` sections of walls, partitions, or other portions of the building in which they are used, in conjunction with the intermediate upright columns 4. The latter may consist of two (or more) substantially identical (or complemental) sections, such as 5 an(L in the instant case, the opposed surfaces of which severally include a central semi-cylindrical depression 9 (see Fig. 3) and marginal channels 11, 12, parallel thereto but spaced from the cylindrical depression by flat surfaces 13, 14., respectively. Fixed to said columns. preferably adjacent the ends thereof, are

metallic strips 15, having the ends 1U. li

bent at substantially right angles thereto land embedded'int-o the flat surfaces 13, 14, respect-ively,-the intermediate portion 18 spanning the cylindrical depression 9 but bent at its central portion into a semicircu lar recess, as at 19. In the spanning portion of the strip 18, at either side of the semi-circular recess 19, are provided holes 21 adapted to receive bolts 22 therethrough (Fig. 2). The corresponding elements of section 5 are essentially identical with those described with respect to section 5 and are referred to by the same numerals as the corresponding elemcnts of section 5, but primed in each case.

lift? The units 1 are assembled in superposed position upon any suitable foundation or other support (not shown) in such manner as to bring their outer faces into suitable alignment,-but also and more particularly so as to cause the projections 2 on the ends of superposed units to register accurately (Fig. 1). The iii-st series of units 1, as thus assembled, is located with the register'- ing projections or tenon elements 2 thereon parallel to and suitably spaced from an upright member of the structural framework yl`he latter may conveniently consist of a hollow metal tube, embedded at its lower end in the foundation wall and extending to such height as may be desired,-correspond ing. for eiianiplc. to the height of the first story of the building.

ii. second series of units 1, which may be identical with those of the firstseries, is similarly 'arranged and disposed, on the opposite side of the upright member from the first-series of units and equally spaced therefrom. The space between the two series of units' is preferably made equal to the width of the intermediatecolumn 4 to be inserted therein.

Upon now bringing the two sections 5 and 5 together, face to face, within the space between the series of blocks i, l". the corresponding marginal channels 11, 11 and'lQ, 12 form complemental slots or grooves which receive and engage the corresponding projections 2, 2 on the ends of adjacent series Aof wall units 1 and 1, respectively. At the same time surfaces 13, 13 and 14C, 14 come together' and the semi-cylindrical depressions 9, 9 form a cylindrical opening 23 adapted to fit around the vertical member of the structural framework 24. The semi-circular recesses 19, 19 of the strips 15, l5 surround but form a circle preferably of a slightly less diameter than that of the member .24. Bolts 22 are then inserted through holes 21, 21 in the opposed, substantially parallel portion 18, 18 of the strips 15, 15, respectively, and drawn together as by tightening up the nuts 25 thereon (Fig. 2). This brings the two sections 5. 5. of the column firmly together and produces in effect a rigid clamping action upon the member of the framework 2li, aswell as upon each of the projections 2 of the adjacent units. The height of the column d will usually be greater than that of a single unit, or may be equal to the height of a full story or more of the building, as already mentioned and accordingly extend beyond and engage a considerable number of the superposed wall'units, on both sides. It thus greatly contributes to the mutual rigidity of the series of units and to the strength of the completed structure as a whole, and firmly securing the wall units to the structural framework.

The cylindrical space 23, which is formed in the central portion of the eolumns,'may now be filled with cementitious material or the like, or may advantageously be left hollow, for some purposes, as will be more fully described.

It is not necessary that buildings erected in accordance with the invention shall be alike either in plan or design and obviously any desired combination of sizes and shapes of construction units may be effected by suitable modifications 1n the application of the principle of the invention, in actual practice. 1While the invention has been thus described with respect to a specic instance of construction and to such materials as are orc ina'rily employed in building operations, as typical and representative of its general application, it is to be understood that such 'description is one example only of the adaptation of the invention and that various modifications and substitutions may readily be made therein. and that such modifications and substitutions are to be considered as within the scope and contemplation of the present application and claims.

l'. claim:

1. A structural column for walls of buildings and the like, comprising complementary sections, recesses in the opposed surfaces of said sections, adapted to receive projecting elements corresponding thereto upon adjacent portions of the wall with which it may be associatechand means for drawing said sections together to engage said projecting elements of the adjacent wall.

2. A structural column for walls of buildings and the like comprising complementary sections, channels in the opposed surfaces of said sections to define a longitudinal space therebetween, recesses in the opposed surfaces of said 'sections adapted to receive projecting elements corresponding rthereto upon adjacent portions of the wall with which said column may be associated, and means for securing said sections together to engage said projecting elements.

3. It structural column for walls of buildings and the like comprising complementary sections, channels in .the opposed surfaces of said sections'to define a longitudinal space therebetween, an upright framework element disposed in said space, recesses in the opposed surfaces of said sections adapted to receive projecting elements corresponding thereto upon adjacent portoins of the wall with which said column may be associated, and

means for securing said sections together to engage 'said projecting elements and said framework element. l

4. A structural column for walls of buildings and the like comprising complementary sections, channels inthe opposed surfaces of said sections to define a'longitudinal space therebetween, an upright framework element disposed in said space, recesses in the opposed surfaces of said sections adapted to receive projecting elements corresponding thereto upon adjacent portions of the Wall with which said column may be associated, and means for securing said sections together to engage said projecting elements and said framework element, slots in the upper portion of said framework element, and laterally projecting framework members keying thereinto.

5. A structural column for walls of buildings and the like comprising complementary sections, channels in the opposed surfaces of said sections to define a longitudinal space therebetween, an upright framework element disposed in said Space, recesses in the opposed surfaces of said sections adapted to receive projecting elements corresponding thereto upon adjacent portions of the wall with which said column may be associated, and means for securing said se-ctions together to engage said projecting elements and said framework element, slots in the upper por- -.tion of said framework element, and laterally projecting framework members keying thereinto, and a sleeve fitting over the end of said framework element.

6. A structural column for walls of buildings and the like comprising complementary sections, channels in the opposed surfaces of said sections to define a longitudinal space therebetween, an upright framework element disposed in said space, recesses in the opposed surfaces of said sections adapted to receive projecting elements corresponding thereto upon adjacent portions of the wall with which said column may be associated, and means for securing said sections together to engage said projecting elements and said framework element, slots in the upper portion of said framework element, and laterally projecting framework members keying thereinto, and a sleeve fitting over the end of said framework element, and a second upright framework' member received in the opposite end of said sleeve.

7. A structural column for walls of buildings an-d the like, comprising complementary sections, means for drawing said sections toward each other to provide recesses therebetween to receive projecting elements upon adjacent portions of the wall with which it may be associated, whereby the sections may clamp the projections therebetween.

8. The combination of structural columns for walls of buildings and the like and building elements to be located in the wall adjoining the column, said column comprising complementary sections and means for drawing the sections together, said elements having projections adapted to be clamped between the complementary sections as they are thus drawn together.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 21st day of May, 1925.

ALBERT F. BEMIS. 

